Why This Major Sumo Event is Being Held in London
This Prestigious Sumo Competition
Location: The Royal Albert Hall, London. Schedule: 15-19 October
Exploring Sumo Wrestling
Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, combining custom, discipline and Shinto religious rituals with origins more than 1,000 years.
This physical contest features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – battling within a circular arena – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.
Traditional ceremonies take place before and after each bout, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects of the sport.
Customarily before a match, a hole is created at the center of the dohyo and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.
The hole gets sealed, enshrining inside divine presence. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ceremonial stomp with hand clapping to drive off negative energies.
Professional sumo operates under a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers involved dedicate their entire lives to the sport – living and training in group settings.
Why London?
This Major Sumo Event is being held internationally only the second occasion, as the tournament taking place in London from Wednesday, 15 October until Sunday, 19 October.
The British capital with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion a tournament took place beyond Japan in sumo history.
Clarifying the decision for the international competition, the Japan Sumo Association chair expressed he wanted to share to the people of London sumo's attraction – a historic Japanese tradition".
The sport has seen substantial growth in popularity globally in recent years, with overseas events could further boost the popularity of Japanese culture abroad.
Sumo Bout Mechanics
The fundamental regulations of sumo are quite simple. The bout is decided once a wrestler is forced out from the ring or touches the floor with anything other than their foot soles.
Bouts might end almost instantly or last several minutes.
There exist two main fighting styles. Aggressive pushers generally push competitors from the arena through strength, whereas grapplers choose to grip the other rikishi employing judo-like throws.
High-ranking rikishi frequently excel in various techniques adjusting against different styles.
There are 82 winning techniques, including dramatic throws strategic evasions. This diversity of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, so surprises and upsets may happen in any bout.
Size categories are not used within sumo, making it normal to observe wrestlers of varying dimensions. Sumo rankings determine matchups rather than body measurements.
Although female athletes do compete in non-professional sumo globally, they cannot enter professional tournaments or the main arenas.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Sumo wrestlers reside and practice together in training stables known as heya, led by a stable master.
The daily routine of a rikishi centers completely around the sport. Early mornings dedicated to training, followed by a large meal of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – and an afternoon nap.
The average wrestler consumes between six to 10 bowls per meal – approximately 10,000 calories – although legendary stories of extreme consumption exist in sumo history.
Wrestlers purposely increase mass to enhance leverage during matches. Although large, they possess surprising agility, rapid reflexes and explosive power.
Nearly all elements of wrestlers' existence get controlled through their training house and governing body – creating a unique lifestyle among athletic professions.
A wrestler's ranking determines earnings, accommodation options including personal assistants.
Younger less established rikishi handle chores around the heya, whereas senior ones enjoy preferred treatment.
Competitive standings get determined through performance in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records move up, unsuccessful ones drop down in standing.
Prior to events, a new banzuke gets published – a ceremonial list displaying all wrestlers' positions within the sport.
At the summit exists the rank of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna represent the essence of sumo – beyond mere competition.
Who Becomes a Rikishi
The sport includes 600 rikishi competing professionally, primarily being Japanese.
Foreign wrestlers have participated prominently over years, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels currently.
Top champions include international representatives, including wrestlers multiple countries reaching elite status.
In recent news, young international aspirants have journeyed to the homeland pursuing wrestling careers.
